a last minute issue

USAGE SUMMARY

"a last minute issue" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something unexpected happens at the very last minute that requires attention, especially in the context of a task or project. For example, "We thought our presentation was ready to go, but then a last minute issue came up and we had to make some revisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But in the early hours of Thursday, organisers sent an email to guests and posted on Facebook that there had been a last-minute issue.

The Guardian

Democrat Ethan Berkowitz was elected mayor of Anchorage, Alaska, Tuesday in a runoff election in which Berkowitz's position on incest had become a last-minute issue.

Huffington Post

I had a last-minute issue that came up with a story that I was writing while traveling to Brazil last year.

Huffington Post

On any other day it would be a borderline-reasonable request, one that I have already made when I rescheduled because of a last-minute issue with my visa.

Vice

Burlingame based BitGravity officially launches their website and content delivery network (CDN) this evening, although the company has been busy working with nearly fifty existing customers for months to work through any last minute issues.

TechCrunch

If it had taken effect, it would have forced another 10 clinics to close on July 1 , 2015 but the Supreme Court stepped in at the last minute, issuing a temporary block of the law until it could decide whether to take up the case.

Vice

The email, written on Thursday and which the Guardian has seen, says: "The schools were due to formally change their status on 1 September, however due to a last minute technical issue in respect of the PFI contract this has not been possible.

The Guardian

Update: The launch has been delayed until Wednesday to address some last minute issues with the rocket.

TechCrunch

Typically Judges do not respond well to last minute issues and the Court's backlog of cases often increases the likelihood that the issues will not get scheduled for hearing in a timely fashion.

Huffington Post

While the ships were nearby in the South China Sea, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a "last minute" refusal of the port call, the State Department said.

The New York Times

When contacted by The Independent for a progress report a month after the purchase, Retail Acquisitions initially declined to comment, before issuing a last minute statement as The Independent was going to press.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a last minute issue", be specific about the nature of the issue and its impact to maintain clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a last minute issue" without providing details, as it can sound dismissive or insincere. Always specify the nature of the problem to maintain transparency and trust.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a last minute issue" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. It identifies a problem or difficulty that arises shortly before a deadline or event. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a last minute issue" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes a problem arising shortly before a deadline or event. As determined by Ludwig, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, though it lacks examples in the analyzed data. While the phrase is deemed neutral in formality, it's advisable to be specific about the nature of the issue to avoid vagueness. Considering alternatives like "an eleventh hour snag" or "a late hour problem" can add nuance to your communication. Therefore, clarity and context are key when employing the phrase ""a last minute issue"".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a late hour problem

Changes "last minute" to "late hour", emphasizing the lateness of the problem's discovery.

an eleventh hour snag

Replaces "issue" with "snag" and "last minute" with "eleventh hour", offering a more idiomatic variation.

a final stage complication

Substitutes "last minute" with "final stage", highlighting the point in time when the issue occurs, and "issue" with "complication", suggesting complexity.

a near deadline hiccup

Uses "hiccup" for "issue", indicating a small, temporary problem; "near deadline" replaces "last minute".

a last second glitch

Emphasizes immediacy with "last second", using "glitch" for a minor technical problem.

a just in time difficulty

Uses "just in time" to convey the proximity to a deadline, replacing issue with a broader term.

a final moment challenge

Replaces "issue" with "challenge", implying a need for problem-solving; "final moment" is used instead of "last minute".

a last gasp crisis

Uses "last gasp" to dramatically highlight how close the issue is to the deadline, "crisis" is more serious issue.

an ultimate moment snag

Replaces "issue" with "snag" and "last minute" with "ultimate moment", offering a more dramatic variation.

a hair's breadth problem

Employs a more idiomatic expression, hair's breadth, to describe the closeness in time. Problem replaces the word issue.

FAQs

How can I use "a last minute issue" in a sentence?

You can use "a last minute issue" to describe a problem that arises close to a deadline. For example, "We encountered "a last minute issue" with the software, delaying the release."

What are some alternatives to saying "a last minute issue"?

Alternatives include "an eleventh hour snag", "a late hour problem", or "a final stage complication", depending on the specific context and severity of the issue.

Is it better to say "last-minute problem" or "a last minute issue"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "last-minute problem" is slightly more concise. "A last minute issue" might be preferred when you want to soften the directness of the word "problem".

What does ""a last minute issue"" imply about the situation?

It implies that the problem was unexpected and discovered very close to a deadline or event, often suggesting a need for urgent resolution. It can also suggest potential stress or disruption.